GWR Group plc has revealed significant increases in listening to its major stations in RAJAR figures (Quarter 3, 2004) released today.
GWR?s most commercially attractive ?Band A? stations ? Trent FM, Essex FM, 2-Ten FM, Leicester Sound and GWR FM – have performed well. Hours of listening have increased by 7.3% on the quarter to 16.3 million and weekly reach is up 1% to 1.48 million listeners. GWR?s local stations ? branded as The Mix Network – have performed well, maintaining market share at 13.4%, with total listening hours of 44.38 million.
The Group?s national service Classic FM is still the UK?s largest commercial radio station, with 6.145 million weekly listeners and 44.34 million hours of listening. In London, Classic FM has 1.48 million listeners and 9.27 million hours. The station also lays claim to commercial radio?s biggest programme, with 3.04 million listeners tuning into its breakfast programme each week.
GWR?s national digital stations, which celebrate their fifth birthday next month, continue to drive digital radio listening. The reach for Planet Rock is up 4.5% on the quarter to 231,000. Core has seen its audience increase by 8% to 142,000.
Commenting on the figures, GWR Group Executive Chairman Ralph Bernard told RadioMad.net:
?Our focus on the GWR Group stations which are in most demand from advertisers has paid off for us in an increasingly competitive market. The success of our digital services alongside our analogue stations is most encouraging.?